Newfound Family

Angels & Misfortune

The months went by fast, and soon fall faded into winter. It was Christmas time, and the whole team spent Christmas at the compound. Even Clint, who brought his family along.

It was currently Christmas eve, and Nat currently sat at the table with Wanda and Lila, who were decorating Christmas cookies.

Wanda placed the last one on a plate.

"There. All done. Now what?"

"Can we eat one?" Lila asked.

Nat laughed.

"Sure, I don't see why not. Just don't eat too many, I don't want you to spoil your dinner."

Nat left the room, coming back with a bunch of craft supplies. Both Wanda and Lila were eating the cookies.

"I have a tradition that I want to share with you two. Are you up for it?"

They both nodded their heads excitedly.

Nat dumped the bag to reveal a bunch of sticks, and a few spools of thread.

"Auntie Nat, are those sticks from outside?"

Nat laughed, nodding.

"They are. I collected some after my run this morning. When I was a small girl, I used to collect sticks to make ангелы, or angels. I used to secretly make them for all the children at Christmas, and we used to hide them under our pillows on Christmas eve so they would protect our dreams."

"Like a dream catcher?" Lila asked.

"Yeah, kind of. We called them 'защитник детей' or 'protector of children."

They both nodded silently, knowing not to ask any more questions. It was very rare Nat shared her past with anyone, let alone the kids.

They spent the rest of the night making angels, wrapping the sticks in brightly coloured thread to resemble wings. They decorated the tree with them, and Wanda secretly took one to put under her pillow. Maybe they'd help with her dreams, too.

That night, Nat came in to say goodnight, she saw the angel sticking out from underneath her pillow.

"Did it really work, Mama?" Wanda asked.

Nat smiled, taking the girl into her arms.

"I think so. It felt kind of like the person you loved most was always with you."

Wanda nodded. She stared at the small angel, shoving it back underneath her pillow.

Nat pulled it out again, hanging it above her bed.

"If you put it up above your bed, it could be like it's watching over you while you dream."

She bent down, kissing the girls head.

"Good night, malyshka."

"I love you, Mama."

Nat smiled.

"I love you too." She brushed some hair out of her face. "Now get some sleep, it's a big day tomorrow."

...

Christmas morning, at exactly 6 am, Wanda ran into Steve and Nat's room, jumping on their bed to wake them up.

"Come on! It's Christmas!"

It was an understatement to say she had been excited for Christmas. As a child, she barely remembered celebrating with her family. What she did remember was that the meal was better, maybe a bit of meat. After they were forced to the streets, there was nothing at all, and obviously, in Hydra, there was no Christmas either. When Nat and Steve told her about American Christmas traditions, she had listened intently with wide eyes. She had thought that that kind of Christmas was only in movies.